The Pitching-In Southern League Premier Division Central, Saturday 19th November, 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Bromsgrove Sporting 3 (1) Nuneaton Borough 0 (0) at the Victoria Ground
Following a draw away last week against Barwell, Sporting were back at the Victoria Ground last Saturday in a tough fixture against second in the league Nuneaton Borough writes Shaunna-Grace Murphy.
Manager Mike McGrath opted to keep loanee from Kidderminster Harriers Kai Lissimore in mid-field whilst his colleague Jack Tolley newly arrived and also on loan from Aggborough was on the bench. Left-back Kieron Dawes returned to the side after serving a ban for his red card three weeks ago.
Sporting started well with Lissimore making some great runs and feeding the forward line but the first real chance of the game came after the ball fell to Dawes who struck well but former Rousler Tony Breeden in the Boro goal saved comfortably. Just before the half-hour had passed Boro's Max Brogan came painfully close to opening the scoring with a free-kick towards the top left corner before being palmed away by an outstretched Ollie Taylor.
It was the Rouslers though in the 37th minute who opened the scoring with another goal from Dan Sweeney making it 3 goals in 3 games when he tapped home a loose ball from a few yards out.
Bromsgrove came out the blocks early in the second half forcing Breeden into an early save from Sweeney then minutes later Miro Pais had an certain chance to double the lead after receiving a square pass from the same team mate before thundering his shot against the post. Sweeney himself looked to double his own tally for the day playing the ball towards the far corner but his shot went narrowly wide.
Minutes before the hour, Pais would finally get his goal picking up a pass from Sweeney, turning in the box before firing brilliantly into the top left hand corner; a candidate for goal of the season.
Nuneaton had an opportunity to get a goal back after Chris Cox’s long throw into the box was flicked on by Joseph Magunda before being easily collected by Taylor. However Sporting weren’t done as on 74 minutes Brandon Smalley put the ball in the net to make it 3 - 0 despite appeals for a foul from the Boro defence and that's how the scoreline remained when Mr Sheppard blew for full time.
Far and away Sporting's best win and performance of the season so far against a good team who came into the match with the best defensive record in the league but it ended up a tactical master class by manager McGrath and his management team.
Sporting line-up: Ollie Taylor, Ammar Dyer, Kieron Dawes (65 mins), Joe Curtis, Tom Taylor (Capt), Mike McGrath, Kai Lissimore, Mo Njie, Dan Sweeney, Brandon Smalley (Jack Tolley 75 mins), Miro Pais. Unused substitutes: Lewis Wright, Callum King-Harmes, Ryan Edmunds, Dom Perkins.
Referee: Mr A Sheppard (Gloucester), attendance: 817.
